Bingham McCutchen is set to launch a London antitrust practice with the hire of a McDermott Will & Emery partner in the City.

Davina Garrod, who heads up McDermott's London hedge fund practice, will join Bingham in the next two months as the first European-based partner in the firm's antitrust and trade regulation practice group.

Garrod, who joined McDermott in 2002 from Olswang, focuses on US and EU merger control law, while she also advises on competition-related litigation and regulatory government investigations.

Bingham said that the hire is part of a strategic focus to broaden its US and Asia-based antitrust capabilities into Europe.

London managing partner James Roome (pictured) said: "It is a very interesting hire for us as antitrust is an area that we have not really taken advantage of before in London, and it will tie in with our significant practice in the US. Also, Davina's strength in the hedge funds area will tie in particularly well with our London office focus on financial institutions."

The arrival of Garrod, which brings Bingham's London partner headcount to 15, is the firm's second partner hire from McDermott's City arm in the last year after London tax partner Stuart Sinclair moved in the same direction last June.

Bingham also added a City partner from Sidley Austin in December, when Sarah Smith joined as a partner in the finance practice.

McDermott also made several additions in London last year, most recently the hire of Denton Wilde Sapte energy partner David Birchall in October.